Fruit-packing device



FRUIT PACKING DEVICE Filed dot. 18, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 jya' 6 7/72) WM (5. M

Nov. 20, 1928. 1,692,677

R. E. MARTIN FRUIT PACKING DEVICE Filed Oct. 18, gaze 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i a suitable apparatus for placingfand main- Patented Nov. 20, 1928.

UNITED STATES ROBERT'E. MARTIN, on cnozn 'r, VIRGINIA".

FRUIT-PACKING .DEYICE.

Applicatiomfiled ctober-18,. 1926. Serial No. 142,338.

This inx' 'entionrelates in general to a-device for packing fruit, and more particularly to an apparatus for assembling a.frui t container, and subsequently. packing the fruit when placed therein..

An object of this invention to provide taining the ends ofthe container in the correct position for accurateattachment to the body of the container in the operation of assembling the container.

Another object of my invention is to provide such apparatus that will also be suitable for-pressing the fruit when placed in the container.

A. further. object is to provide the device witlia novel systein-of levers and swinging supports whereby the device may be rendered readily. operable throughout the various stages of the. assemblingand packing operations.

Another. object is vto'provide a novel'type of container which willpermit of ready assembling.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consists in the combina tion of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter set forth in the specification certain embodiments being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of the device with the container placed over the frame in position for assembling the container.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the same as Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same as Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the device in front elevation, showing the frame over which the body of the container maybe placed for assembling the container.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the plunger.

Fig. 6 is a section through the plunger and the smaller end of the basket taken along line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation in perspective of the assembled container.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 is a platform supported by a pair of front legs 2 and a pair of rear legs 3. Pivotally connected at 4 and 7 are a pair of uprights 4: and 7 capable ofbackward and forward pivotal movement which latter is limited by a pair of guides 5 slidable on studs 6 attached to the legs 3; Hingedl'y attached at 8 to the uprights is a crossbar 8 which extends through a vertical slot in the upright- 7 whereby the movement ofthe crossbar is both guided andlim'itedi. Pivotally attached at 9 is a plunger rod 9, to which is connected a circular plunger 10 of resilient metal having a plurality of cleats 11, throughoutits periphery and pivotally attached thereto at 12 so that the position of the cleats may be variedfor the desired purpose.

Suitably attached at'13 tothe crossbar 8 is av vertical arm. 13, the latter being pivotally connected at 14 to a. hand lever 14 which is pivotally connected at one end to one ofthe tween and connected to the arm'13 and the hand lever 14in such a-manner andat such pointsthat release of the'lug 16f'rom the notches in the plate 17 results in the spring 18 returning the hand lever to its normal upward position and the raising of the i plunger 10.

Fig. 4 shows the platform 1 with a skeleton frame supported thereon. This frame has a lar e end 19 which is placed on the platform,

an a small end 20 with pieces 21 extending between the two ends. The purpose of this frame is to aid materially in the assembling of the fruit container.

In actual operation the body 22 of the empty container is placed over the frame when the latter is in the position shown in Fig. 4. The small end 24 of the container, having cross strips 25, is then introduced into the body 22, until the end 24 rests on the top 20 of the frame. container body and the frame are such that the smaller end 24 is now in correct position to be affixed to the container body. To securely maintain this relative position, the hand lever 14 is pushed downwardly. This action, by means of the system of levers pre viously explained, causes the plunger 10 to engage the small end 24 and hold it against the frame top 20 under pressure. The cleats 11, bein swung into the position shown in Fig. 1, and the adjacent edge of the body 22, thus aiding in maintaining the proper relative positions for fastening.

The body 22 has a plurality of clips 23 The relative heights of the 9 it over the edges of both the end 24 which are bent around the edge of the end 24 which holds the latter in assembled position.

The container is then turned with the large end up and filled with fruit, or the like in any approved manner. A cover 26 is then placed on the container and the pieces 27, which form a part of the cover are passed through clips 28, whereby the cover may be secured to the large end of the container.

The frame is then removed from the platform 1 Which may have a hole cut therein approximately the siZe of the small end of the container. The full container is placed with the large end resting on the platform over the hole. The plunger 10 is then swung into position on the cover 24 and pressure applied thereon by pushing down on the hand lever 14. In this manner the fruit is pressed, the hole in the platform allowing for any bulge in the cover over the large end of the container. The cleats 11 are obviously placed over the edges of the cover 24 and the small end of the body of the container, this manual operation being the same as takes place in the assembling of the cover 24. The fact that the uprights 4 and 7 are pivoted at 4 and 7 makes it easily possible to place and withdraw the container and frame upon and away from the platform throughout the assembling, packing, and pressing operations.

container, and packing and pressing same and its contents, said device comprising a platform and a removable frame supported thereby and of substantially the same conplied thereto for pressing said container and its contents.

2. In a device for assembling the ends of a container, and packing and pressing same and its contents, said device comprising a platform and a removable frame supported thereby and of substantially the same contour as the container, a manually and positively operated resilient pressure member adapted to maintain the component parts of said containerin position upon said frame for assembly, and subsequently after the removal of the frame, the reversal of, and the filling of said container adapted to be applied thereto for pressing said container and its contents, said pressure member comprising a resilient ring with an ular cleats pivoted thereto and adapted to t over the edges of the container body and cover both inthe assembling and pressing operations. 7 In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ROBERT E. MARTIN. 

